Amid all the managerial comings and goings at Tannadice, it was significant that Dundee United took time out to focus on their future.
Three-year deals were handed out to exciting 17-year-old winger Ryan Gauld and promising defender John Souttar at just 16 the club’s youngest-ever debutant when he faced Aberdeen on January 2.
These two players personify the kind of optimism talked about by new boss Jackie McNamara when he took over from Peter Houston.
Under youth supremo Stevie Campbell, the pair have prospered and are being tipped to become permanent fixtures in the first team one day.
Both have appeared in the senior side already and, having watched the likes of Ryan Fraser leave Aberdeen much earlier than the Dons would have liked and probably deserved, Campbell is happy with this tidy bit of housekeeping from United.
“I was really pleased to get John and Ryan on the three-year deals because I have seen the potential in those two in particular,” he said. “In light of what you have seen happening elsewhere in Scotland where clubs have lost bright young stars too soon, I am absolutely delighted that United have taken steps to hang on to them.
“Three years is the maximum deal you can do and I am sure that at the end of those three years and more than likely well before that Ryan and John will be established members of the United first team.
“Indeed, I would be disappointed if in a year’s time, while perhaps not being regulars, they are not making a real contribution like Stuart Armstrong did last season.
“I have no worries about their temperament and they are a joy to work with. Their passion for football is amazing. They are consummate professionals who come from good families, so I am confident there will be no problems off the park.
“People have talked about Gauldy for a long time now and he is something special there is no disputing that.
“Also, John can be up there in that category too,” continued Campbell. “We will lose them at one point but I think it will be when their careers are on the up and up. If they go having made a big contribution to the club, then that will be a good deal for United.
“You just need to look at David Goodwillie. He won the Scottish Cup here and then left for £2.8 million. The new manager is certainly getting some terrific young players who will, in time, be pushing to play in the senior team.”
Souttar has already made a name for himself by beating Ian Mitchell’s long-standing youngest player record when he took the field at Pittodrie. That will not be a burden, however.
“I didn’t really think about it, to be honest,” said Souttar. “It is a good record to have and I am proud of it but it’s not something that I will be thinking too much about in future because I want to look forward.
“On the day, I was concentrating only on making my debut and playing well for the team. I did have the likes of Sean Dillon, Jon Daly, Gavin Gunning and Johnny Russell all come to me before the Aberdeen game to wish me well and have a wee chat. But it was only afterwards that someone told me that I had become the youngest-ever player to make his debut for the club.
“Some of the lads had been at pains to tell me that it was just another game, but when I got out there at Pittodrie it wasn’t just another game. It was different to anything I had experienced before because the atmosphere was unbelievable. Now the challenge for me is to keep progressing and hopefully do well here.
“It was great to get the new deal done. As a young player you are always striving to get a full-time contract and I was extremely happy to get mine.”
Gauld signed on the dotted line while still recovering from illness but he is battling back to full health and hopes to make an impact between now and the end of the season.
“It is good to finally get a contract because United is a good club to be at,” he said. “I just need to keep progressing through the three years of the contract and hopefully become a starter in the team.
“I have had glandular fever so the contract was a nice boost. My aim is to get more games by the end of the season and hopefully next term I can push for a start.
“You see other young players both at United and across the SPL getting their chance and that inspires you. Hopefully, when I get mine I will take it and things will take off for me from there.”